England have taken a 2-1 lead in the five match series with a six wicket win in over the White Ferns at the County Ground in Derby.
The victory was set up by Jenny Gunn who took five for 31 to help restrict the White Ferns to 220 for nine and then guided her team to victory with an unbeaten 37 off 43 balls.
After losing the toss and batting first, White Ferns skipper Aimee Watkins top scored with 68 off 65 balls and then helped her team to a respectable total after they were struggling at 79 for five.
Opener Lucy Doolan made 34 at the top of the order before becoming Gunn’s first victim with the English seamer going on to rip out five of the top six batsmen.
Sarah Taylor (64) and Heather Knight (42) got the reply off to a solid start with a 108 run opening stand.
The White Ferns fought back with four wickets for 32 runs to have England teetering at 140 for four but Lydia Greenway (45*) and Gunn steadied the innings with a match winning 83 run partnership.
Speaking after the match, coach, Gary Stead said: The series is very even - we just need to win some of the little battles within the match and we are still looking for the complete performance.
“We batted well at the start and end of the innings today but lost key wickets really close together which slowed us down as we had to rebuild the innings.
“We fought back well with our bowling after their openers had a good stand.
“All three matches have been very close so it about keeping the pressure on when we get into a good position.”
Schedule:
29/06/2010 England vs White Ferns - First Twenty20
County Ground, Chelmsford
Result: England won by 37 runs
1/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Second Twenty20
Rose Bowl, Hampshire
Result: White Ferns won by 4 runs
2/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Third Twenty20
County Ground, Hove
Result: White Ferns won by 9 runs
4/07/2010 Ireland vs White Ferns - ODI
Kibworth Cricket Club
9:45pm (NZ time)
Result: White Ferns won by 159 runs
7/07/2010 England Academy vs White Ferns - 50 over match
Kibworth Cricket Club
Result: White Ferns won by 6 wickets
10/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - First ODI
The County Ground, Taunton
Result: England won by 1 wicket
12/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Second ODI
The County Ground, Taunton
Result: White Ferns won by 4 wickets
15/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Third ODI
County Ground, Derby
Result: England won by 6 wickets
17/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Fourth ODI
Barnsley
9:45pm (NZ time)
20/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Fifth ODI
Lord's, London
9:45pm (NZ time)
